FIRE chiefs were yesterday facing a huge fine after admitting safety breaches relating to the death of a crew member.

Ewan Williamson, who was 35, died as he tackled a fire in the basement of the former Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road, Edinburgh, on July 12, 2009.

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) admitted breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Mr Williamson was working for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service – now the east division of the national service – when he died.

He was the only firefighter in the history of the Lothian and Borders service to die while tackling a blaze.

The service pleaded guilty to failing “to have in place an effective system of radio communication” and failing “to have in place an effective system of implementation of procedures for firefighters using breathing apparatus” during the fire at the Balmoral Bar.

It also admitted failing to “adequately monitor and ensure attendance by firefighters at training courses” and failing to maintain accurate training records for them between July 13, 2008 and July 12, 2009. The SFRS further admitted failing to “adequately train firefighters to ensure close personal contact was maintained during firefighting and search and rescue activities” in the same period.

The court heard that Mr Williamson became separated from a colleague after taking a wrong turn as they exited the smoke-filled bar.

He was paired with a trainee firefighter as they took in a hose and went down into a basement where bottles of spirits and carbon dioxide cylinders were stored. After a first trip into the premises they returned, but it became too hot to remain in the basement.

The heat had become unbearable and in their view it was too dangerous to continue

Iain McSporran

Advocate depute Iain McSporran said: “The heat had become unbearable and in their view it was too dangerous to continue.”

But on reaching a hatch at the bar the firefighters went in different directions. Mr Williamson turned left and went into a gents’ toilet and his colleague went right and on to the main entrance.

Colleagues who tried to rescue him were faced with the bar floor collapsing and flames coming up from the basement where there was an intense glow “similar to flowing lava”.

By the time the crew forced their way into the toilets via a reinforced window, Mr Williamson was unresponsive and was later declared dead.

The court was told that the crew then declared a “BA emergency” – meaning firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are in trouble – and several unsuccessful attempts were made to locate Mr Williamson before the building was evacuated.

Mr Williamson, who lived with his partner Lynsey Baird in the city’s Barnton area, had joined the service in 2003.

The hearing was told that he was a dedicated member of the team and “his loss was felt by all those who worked with him”, while his death had had a “devastating effect” on his family.

Judge Lord Uist deferred sentence on the SFRS, who face being fined, until next month.